MasterChef USA

- Season 3

(2012)

The search begins for America's best amateur cook.

The search continues for America's best amateur cook.

The remaining hopefuls compete for a spot in the top 18.

The top 18 are forced out of their comfort zone.

For the first team challenge, the remaining 16 contestants were divided into two teams and were required to cook an entrée for 201 Marines. After tasting both entrées each Marine would vote and the team with the most votes would win the team challenge.

Guts are tested as the remaining fifteen contestants are challenged to create a unique dish using unconventional - and unappetizing - cuts of meat. The contestants who are most resourceful and think outside the box will make the cut and continue to the next round.

The judges plan a surprise trip for the amateur cooks, but the contestants are in for a rude awakening when the judges split them into teams to prepare hearty breakfast meals for hungry hotel guests. The teams must be organized and work efficiently, but tempers reach a new high during room service. Later, the losing team must prove they deserve to remain in the competition in an emotional elimination round.

For their third Mystery Box Challenge the contestants had to cook a T-bone steak with other ingredients.

Team challenge: split into 3 teams, each with a food truck serving a different style of food, to sell to visitors at Venice Bench. Earn the most to win.

Graham Elliot takes on the mystery box.

For their 5th Mystery Box Challenge, the contestants had 60 minutes to create a dish using a live sea urchin, also known as uni. But first Ramsey showed the contestants had to humanely remove the sea urchin from it's shell.

For their 4th team challenge the contestants had to cook steak and two side dishes for 101 cowboys and cowgirls.

A guest judge surprises the contestants with a letter from their loved ones and were required to cook with southern ingredients.

The eliminated contestants return to compete for a "second chance" white apron.

The final seven contestants had 45 minutes to create a dish using live Santa Barbara spot prawns.

For their 5th team challenge the contestants were divided into two teams and had to cook one dinner service at Hatfield's restaurant.

The remaining five home cooks select the mystery box ingredients they will need to create a dish that best represents who they are, but the judges surprise the contestants with a game changing twist. Later, in the elimination challenge, the home cooks will have a limited amount of time to conceptualize and recreate one of Graham Elliot's signature dishes that he served to President Barack Obama at his flagship restaurant. Find out whose dish is fit to impress the Commander-in-Chief and who will be sent home.

In the most intimidating challenge of the season, the final four home cooks will split into two teams to prepare an exquisite three-course meal for the judges and three world-renowned chefs: Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse and Guy Savoy. The Michelin-starred guest judges will help critique each course and evaluate each dish's flavor, originality and culinary finesse. The winning pair will earn a spot in the Top 3, while the losing team will compete head-to-head in a heated pressure test featuring souffle. Find out who will rise to the occasion and who will collapse under...

The last Mystery Box Challenge, the contestants were allowed to cook a dish they can include if they were given the opportunity to publish their own cookbook. They can use any ingredients, cook in any style use any technique they preferred.

THE JUDGES REVEAL AMERICA'S NEXT "MASTERCHEF" ON THE SEASON FINALE OF "MASTERCHEF." The Top Two finalists have one last chance to prove to the judges that they have the passion, skill and drive worthy of the MASTERCHEF title. In their final challenge in the MASTERCHEF kitchen, the two home cooks will conceptualize and prepare the most important three-course meal of their lives.